Door latch



Dec. 23, 1930. P. s. RlEL. DOOR ILIATCH Filed Nov. 8. 1927 ll/l//lv IIIIIIIIII/ ll IH 4 JZM s flffllllglglvfllll/lllllf/ s u". \w@SS rat'emedn. 23, 1930 l UNITED STATES PETERS. anni., or BUFFALO, NEW Yom:

DOOR LATCH Application led November 8, 1927. Serial No. 231,904.

T his invention ielates more particularly to improvements in the door-latches of refrigerators and the like, but which are likewise adaptable for use on automobile doors.

Its chief object is the provision of a powerpressure latch which willautomatically effect the final closing of the door when the same has been moved toa partially closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic, self-closing latch which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and positive in operation, and which effectually insures the holding of the door in its yclosed position by pressure.

A still further object is to provide the automatic latch mechanism with means for locking it in its closed position.

In the accompanying drawings Figure lis a fragmentary vertical section of a door and its casin showing my improved latch in front e evation and 1n its locked position.l Figure 2 is a similar view showing the latch in its unlocked position. Figures 3 and 4 are horizontal sections on the correspondingly -numbered lines in Figure 1. Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse Vertical A section on line 5-5, Figure 4. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the various parts of the latch, showing the same detached but in their relative positlons. Figure 7 is a horizontal section on line 7-7, Figure 2. Figure 8 1s a horizontal section, similar to Figure 7, showing a slight modification of the invention. v

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. y

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the same is applied to a refrigerator door 10 having amarginal flange 11 adapted to engage the rabbet 12 in the door frame 13. Arranged in a mortise 14 in the inner face of the door adjacent its free edge is casing 15 for housing the operating parts of the latch, and applied to the edge of the door frame is a strike plate 16 preferably' in the form of a toothed bar, rack or like element whose teeth are disposed transversely and face the opposing free edge of the door.

Mounted su stantially centrally on an upright spindle 17 fixed at its ends in the casing '24 an tends constant 15 is a tubular shaft'18 upon which the o erative parts of the latch are disposed. s shown in Figure 5 the central and end portions ofthis shaft are preferably square while those portions intermediate the squared portionsV are round. J ournaled on the up er round portion of'this shaft to turn relatlve thereto is a toothed wheel or pinion 19 which meshes with a similar wheel or pinion 20 freely mounted on an upright pin 21 of the casing and extending through an opening 22 in the free edge of the door, as seen in Figures 1 and 4, so as to engagek the toothed pinion 20 constitute the latching elements of the mechanism for drawing and holding the door closed'.

Means are provided for eifecting the actuation of the pinion 20 upon its engagement with the bar 16 to automatically perform the final closing or latching of the door after it lhas been manually moved to a partially endant position shown by dotted lines in igure 1, while in the open or unlatched position it assumes the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 2. A spring 28 coiled around the lower end of the s indle 17 has its arm 29 bearin against the a oining end of the link y to urge the disk 23 and its associated handle 27 to the latched position shown in Figure 1. Disposed over this disk on the lower round portion of the shaft lis a lever or detent 30 whose free end is pro- `vided with a shoulder 31 adapted to interlock with the crank arm 25 for holding the handles and associated parts in their unlatchedA positions. The hub of said locking Ab'ar 16 as theV door is swung to its closed position. The toothed bar 16 and cooperating lever is recessed, as shown in Figure 6, tol

provide radial stops or shoulders 32 on its diametrical opposite sides. Also mounted on the lowei` round portion of the shaft 18 and above the detent 30 is a trip element 33 for the latter which has a tooth 34 thereon in constant mesh with the pinion 20 and which is provided at its opposite edges with depending lugs 35 arranged to cooperate with the corres onding shoulders on said lever. Interpose between the latter and the trip element and coiled about the shaft is a spring 36 having one of its projecting arms 3 7 bearing against a pin 38 on the lever 30 to urge the same into-engagement with the handle crank-arm 25. This same spring also functions to prevent the trip element from shifting out of its meshed position with the pinion 20 and for this purpose its arm 37, 1n addition to bearing against the lever pin 3 8, bears against the adjacent lug 35 of said tr1p element while the other spring-arm 39 bears against the companion lug of the latter, as shown in Figure 7, these spring-arms counteracting each other and yieldingly reslsting movement of thejtrip element out of the path of the pinion 20. As the door is swung to its closed position and the pinion 20 engages the rack bar 16, the initial action produced is the turning of the trip element in the direction of the arrow seen in' Figure 7, which causes its lugs 35 to engage the companion shoulders 32 on the locking lever and thereby swing the latter to its released position. The moment this lever is disengaged from the handle-crank 25, the s ring 28 forces the disk 23 and its associate parts, including the shaft 18, in a clockwise direction, and means are provided for utilizing this ener to transmit motion to the pinion 19 and t ence to the pinion l20 to eiect the final closing of the door automatically.

The preferred means for coupling or clutching the pinion 19 with its shaft for the purpose just mentioned consists of a clutch dog or pawl 40 carried by and pivoted at 41 between the ends of a pair of sup ortin arms 42 disposed above and below t e pinion 19 and fixed on the upper and central square portions of the shaft 18 to turn therewith.

This dog is constantly urged into engagement with its pinion b a spring 43 coiled about the upper end o?7 the spindle 17 and having its arm 44 bearing against a lu 45 on the dog to swing the grip in end o the latter toward said pinion. sidge from this function, the spring 43 assists the lower spring 28 in creating the necessary power for turning the shaft 18 and the pinion 19 in a direction to positively close the door and hold the same closed by the 'resulting pressure produced by such springs. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the clutch dog has camshaped anges 45 which are'free to travel in the space between the supporting arms 42 and the pinion 19, and which arc adapted to engage the front face of the rear wall of the casing'l in the unlatched or released position of the mechanism, shown in Figures 2 and 4, for the purpose of swinging and holding the clutch dog 40 clear of the teeth of the pinion 19 against the resistance of the springarm 44. When the clutch dog is so released, the pinions 19, 20 are free to rotate as a result of the pinion, 2O riding over the rack bar 16 during the swin 'ng of the door to its open position. On t e rojection of the mechanism to automatical y latch the door, the clutch dog is carried with its supporting arms and turned in a direction to cause their anges 45 to recede from the casin wall and allow the spring to urge the clutc do into engagement with the pinion 19. It wil thus be seen, that, when the trip element is actuated to release the lever 30 from the handlecrank 25, both power springs 28, 43 will come into play and by reason of the disk 23 and the dog-supporting arms 42 being applied to the square portions of the shaft 18 or otherwise fast thereon, these parts will be revolved in unison and the clutching of the dog 40 with the pinion 19 will causeI the latter to be simultaneously turned to actuate the rack-engaging pinion 20 and automatically close the door and yieldingly hold it in such position.

Briey stated. the operation of the improved latch mechanlsm is as follows:

In the open position of the door 10, the parts assume the position shown in Figures 2, 5 and 7 and are held therein against the resistance of the power springs 28, 43 by the lever 30 engaging the handle crank 25. When the door is swung manually to a partially closed position shown by dotted lines in F igure 4, the pinion 2O encounters the rack bar 16 and is thereby turned in the direction of the arrow (see Figures 4 and 7), transmitting idle motion to the companion pinion 19 and to the trip element 33 for a fraction of a revolution. At a predetermined point in this turning movement, the lugs 35 of the trip element encounter the shoulders of the lever 30 and automatically release the latter from the handle-crank. The moment this lever is thus released, the springs 28, 43 are free to act and furnish the necessar power to turn the pinion 19 and automatical y swing the door to its fully closed position in the manner heretofore described. After the door is fully closed, the springs 28, 43 continue to exert pressure to hold the door tightly in place and insure it against accidentally openlng.

In unlatching the door, the handle 27 is .grasped and turned from the position shown 1n Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 2, this movement being transmitted to the disk 23, tubular shaft 18 and to the supporting arms 42 of the clutch do 40. During the initial stroke of the hand e, the spring-arm 44 allows the clutch dog to yieldin 1y pass over the inion 19, while near the nal stroke of` the andle the cam-shaped flanges 45 of the dog engage the casing-wall and gradually turn it out of engagement with said pinion. The handle and associated parts are held in their unlatchedposition by the detent 30 interlocking with the handle-crank 25, and thev door can now be pulled open. Asthe pinion 20 rides over the rack bar 16, the'fpinio'n 19, being released from the clutch dog, is"\simply turned idly on the shaft 18.

For the purpose `of adaptingthis latch t0 automobile doors and the like, it becomes necessary to hold the pinion 20 against turnthereof engages or overliesthe handle-crank- 25. A spring 47 serves to constantly urge the detent into its engaged position, shown by full lines in Figure 8. At its free end the long detent-arm has a hump 48 with which the handle-crank is adapted to engage when swinging the handle to unlatch the door. Upon so striking this hump, the detent is swun to the dot-ted line position shown in said gure, and is thereby released from the pinion 20, permitting the door to be unlatched and opened in the manner heretofore described.

This automatic, self-closing latch mechanism is manifestly simple and compact in construction, reliable andl efficient in operation, and when applied to refrigerators and like cabinets, positively insures the gentle yet firm closingof the door and retains it closed inan air tight position. Furthermore, this device, being designed to automatically latch the door, eliminates slamming thereof and reduces the strain on the hinges.

I claim as my invention 1. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of toothed latching elements applied to the door and to the frame for rolling Contact one over the other, and means for effecting the automatic operation of one of said elements relative to the other to fully close the door after the same has been moved to a predetermined partially closed position.

2. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of inter-engageable latching elements applied to the door and to the frame, one of said elements being rotatable relative to the other, motion-transmitting means for actuating said rotatable element in a direction over its companion latching element to Aclose the door and means for automatically rendering said motion-transmitting means operative at a predetermined point in the movement of the door to its closed position.

3. In a door latch, the combination with 7 0 a door and its frame, of intermeshing gearlike latching elements applied to the door and `to the frame, one of said elements being rotatable relative to the other, pressure-actuatedmeans operatively connected to said rotatable element lfor urginr it in a direction to close the doonwhen'said rotatable elef -ment is engaged with its companion latching element, and automatic means for rendering said pressure-actuated meansvv operative upon the mitial engagementof the latchin elements in the partially closed position o thedoor.

4. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of a strike plate applied to the frame, a rotatable latch member carried by the door for rolling, interlockingengagement with the strike plate, and means for automatically actuating said 'rotatable latch member at a predetermined point in the closing movement of the door to turn transversely over the strike plate and pull the door to its finally closed position.

5. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of a strike plate applied to theframe, a rotatable latch member carried by the door for rolling engagement with the strike plate, means for automatically actuating said rotatable latch member ina direction to effect the closing of the door from a partially closed to a fully closed position, and manual means for releasin said actuating means from said latch mem er to unlatch the door. i

6. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of a strike plate applied to the frame, a rotatable latch member carlos,

ried by the door for rolling engagement with the strike plate, pressure-actuated means operatively connected'to said rotatable-latch member for urging it in a direction to close the door when said. member is en aged with the strike plate, means for ho dmg said pressure-actuated means against movement, and a releasable element for said holding means for rendering the pressure-actuated means operative upon the initial engagement of the latch member with the strike plate.

7. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of a strike plate applied to the frame, a rotatable latch member carried by the door for rolling engagement with the strike plate, pressure-actuated means operatively connected to said rotatable latch member for urging it in a direction to close the door when said member is engaged with the strike plate, a detent for holding said pressure-actuated means inactive when the door is in its open osition, and a trip element for releasing said) detent to render the pressure-actuated means active upon the initial engagement of the latch member with the strike plate.

8. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of a strike plate applied to the frame, a rotatable latch member carried by the door for rolling engagement with the strike plate, means for transmitting motion to said latch member at a predetermined point in the closing movement of the door, and a clutch device interposed between said latch member and said motion-transmitting means.

9. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of a strike plate applied to the frame and having teeth thereon, a casing applied to the door, a toothed Wheel mounted in said casing for engagement with the toothed strike plate, and means for automatically actuating said Wheel to effect the final closing of the door upon the engagement of the wheel With said strike plate.

10. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of a strike plate applied to the frame and having teeth thereon, a casing applied to the door, a toothed wheel mounted in said casing for engagement with the toothed strike plate, a second toothed Wheel mounted in the casing and meshing With said first-named Wheel, and means for transmitting motion to said second Wheel to automatically close the door upon the initial engagement of said first-named Wheel with the strike plate.

11. In a door latch, the combination With a door and its frame, of a strike plate applied to the frame and having teeth thereon, a casing applied to the door, a toothed Wheel mounted in said casing for engagement with 'the toothed strike plate, a second toothed Wheel mounted in the casing and meshing with said first-named Wheel, means for transmitting motion to said second Wheel, means for temporarily retaining said motion-transmitting means inoperative and means controlled by the said first-named Wheel for releasing said retaining means to render said motion-trannsmitting means operative to automatically close the door upon the initial engagement of said first wheel with the toothed strike plate.

12. In a door latch, the combination With a door and its frame, of a strike plate applied to the frame and having teeth thereon, a casing applied to the door, a toothed Wheel mounted in said casing for engagement with the toothed strike plate, a second toothed Wheel mounted in the casing and meshing with said first-named Wheel, and springpressed means for actuating said second Wheel to automatically eiiect the final closing of the door to its latched position upon the initial engagement of said first Wheel with the strike plate.

13. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of a strike plate applied to the frame and having teeth thereon, a casing applied to the door. a toothed Wheel mounted in said casing for engagement with the toothed strike plate, a second toothed Wheel mounted in the casing and meshing with said first-named wheel, a springepressed clutch dog arranged for engagement W1tl1 said second-named Wheel, means for holding said clutch dog against movement, and means controlled by said first-named Wheel for releasing said clutch do f holding means at a (predetermined point 1n the closing of the oor.

14. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of a strike plate applied to the frame and having teeth thereon, a casing applied to the door, a toothed wheel mounted in said casing for engagement with the toothed strike plate, a hand lever journaled in said casing, spring-pressed means for actuating said toothed Wheel in one direction to automatically latch the door upon the initial engagement of the Wheel with its strike plate, and a connection between said hand lever and said spring-pressed means for effecting the release of said actuating means to unlatch the door.

15. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of a strike plate ap plied to the frame and having teeth thereon, a casing applied to the door, a toothed Wheel mounted in said casing for engagement with the toothed strike plate, a second toothed Wheel mounted in the casing and meshingr with said first-named Wheel, a hand lever journaled in said casing, spring-pressed means for actuating said second wheel in a direction to automatically latch the door upon the initial engagement of said first Wheel with the strike plate, a connection between said hand lever and said springpressed means, and a detent governed by said first-named Wheel and arranged to interlock with said hand lever for maintaining the spring-pressed means inactive when the door is unlatched.

16. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of a strike plate ap plied to the frame and having teeth thereon, a casing applied to the door, a toothed Wheel mounted in said casing for engagement with the toothed strike plate, a second toothed Wheelmounted in the casing and meshing with the first-named Wheel, a revolvable spring-pressed clutch member for transmitting motion to said wheels in a direction to latch the door,\a hand lever for shifting said clutch member to a released position to effect the unlatching of the door, a detent arranged to interlock with said hand lever for holding the transmission clutch member inactive, and a trip element for releasing said detent to render said clutch member active upon the initial engagement of said firstnamed tooth Wheel with the strike plate.

17. In a door latch, the combination With a door and its iframe, of a strike plate applied to the frame and having teeth thereon, a casing applied to the door, a toothed Wheel journaled in the casing for engagement With the toothed strike plate, a shaft journaled in the casing, a second toothed Wheel loosely mounted on said shaft to turn relatively thereto and meshing With said first-named Wheel, a clutch member iiXed on the shaft to releasably engage said second-named Wheel, yieldable means for simultaneously urging said clutch member into engagement with its toothed Wheel and for transmitting motion to the latter in a direction to automatically close the door when the first-named toothed Wheel engages the toothed strike plate, a hand lever operatively connected to said shaft for turning it in a direction to release the clutchmember from said second-named Wheel, a detent for holding said hand lever and said vclutch member in their released positions,

and a trip elementl for releasing said. detent at a predetermined point in the. closing of the door. y

18. In a door latch, the combination With a door and its frame, of a strike plate applied to the frame and having teeth thereon, a casing applied to the door, a toothed Wheel j ournaled in the casing for engagement with the toothed strike plate, a shaft journaled in the casing, a second toothed wheel loosely mounted on said shaft to turn relatively thereto and meshing With said rst-named Wheel, a clutch member rotatable with the shaft to releasably engage said second-named wheel, said clutch member including a part arranged to engage a Wall of the casing when its shaft Vis turned in one direction to disengage the clutch member from its wheel, manual means for turning said shaft in such direction, spring-pressed means tending to urge said clutch member into engagement with its toothed Wheel and` to transmit motion to the latter and said shaft in the opposite direction, means for holding said springpressed means in a strained position, and means vfor automatically releasing said holding means lat a predetermined point in the closing of the door.

19. In a door latch, the combination with a door and its frame, of a lstrike plate applied to the frame and having teeth thereon, a casing applied to the door, a toothed wheel -mounted in said casing for engagement with the toothed strike plate, means for automatically actuating said wheel to effect the final closing of the vdoor upon the engagement of the wheel with said strike plate, including spring-pressed means for transmitting motion to said Wheel, a detent for holding said spring-pressed means in its strained position, and a rotatable trip element for said detent having a tooth thereon in mesh with said toothed Wheel and a part engageable with said detent for releasing it at a predeterranined point in the closing movement of the oor. 20. In a door latch, the combination with aAdoor and its frame, of intermeshing latching elements applied to the door and to the frame, one of said elements being rotatable over the other in response to the opening and closing of the door, and pressure-actuated means governed by the movement of the door for actuating said rotatable element when engaged with its companion latching element to move the door from a partially closed to a 

